No more

I am done giving my child my personal items to play with.  In the last month Elijah has broken or lost 4 pairs of sunglasses (2 mine and 2 Steven's).  He doesn't mean to break things, he is just rough on stuff.

He is constantly asking me to give him my watch and bracelet.  The thing is my son is extremely persistent and not easily distracted (I wonder where he gets that from?  Hint: ask our church staff).  So most of the time I give it to him because I don't want to hear him cry, scream or embarrass me.  Saturday we were in Taco Bell when Elijah started, "I need bracelet, I need bracelet, I need bracelet..." (he calls my watch, bracelet).

Have you ever done something, and as you were in the act, thought "this is not a good idea."  That is what that moment was like for me, but he wouldn't be quiet and I didn't want a scene.  So I handed him my nice watch that Steven gave me as a Christmas present several years ago.

Can you feel where this is going?  Yep.  Hours later, I was in a panic looking for my watch.  I could only remember that it did make it out to the car from the restaurant.  We had made one stop since then (in Pineville).  I looked in the car.  No watch.  I went back to Pineville (by the way, I hate Pineville.  There is traffic there 24 hours a day).  The only think that I could think was that it had fallen out in the parking lot.  I could imagine it being run over by car after car.  But, no watch in Pineville.

I was so upset.  I felt so careless and stupid for not just telling my child no.  I cried when I told Steven.  He wasn't mad (probably because I was crying).  He told me I needed to do better and we would look in the car again.

Yesterday I wore a watch with no battery to church (I can't stand not having it on my wrist).  I prayed and asked the Lord to please help me find the watch.  I tried really hard not to make promises to God about what I would do if I found the watch (ever do that?) but I did.

Last night I decided to have one last look in the car (my fourth time).  I found it.  It had fallen down inside of the car seat, under the cover.  I almost cried.  I did thank the Lord.  The promise I made that I will keep... I am going to say no to my so when he asks for my watch.  I have already done it once today.

On a different note... How about Elevation Church yesterday??  I will never get tired of seeing people be baptized.  Yesterday, my husband (check out his take on it )preached an incredible sermon on baptism and then offered a call for people to be baptized on the spot.  Three services, and 209 people later we sat back stage amazed and exhausted.  I cried at all three services.  Watching people be obedient to God never gets old.  When we laid down in bed last night, we were so grateful for the lives that we live.  God has been so good to us.

Comments

[Peggy]

Wow! I just read through Steven's blog a bit. What an exciting Sunday! After reading some of his thoughts, I think he and my husband would get along really well! Very similar thoughts and ideas.

[alison]

I know what you mean...it's just so hard to say no sometimes. But, I have found it saves you in the long run. It's so much easier to handle a fit for a few minutes than days of aggrevation. I'm so glad you found your watch! You could be like most of us and just give up on wearing jewlery at all :).